The 12 Days of Christmas

John and I have had numerous conversations about the traditions we’d like to pass on to our children and/or start new with our family. As the kids get older and are able to appreciate the specific holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc that pass each year, we’ve decided to give a few news ones a try. Of course, our own immediate families had their traditions to which we both tend to prefer. But at the same time, our little family kind of has a way of adopting “new” ways of doing things. Believe me when I say we don’t set out to “go against the grain” or seek out different ways of doing things simply because not many are doing them. It just sort of happens that way sometimes.

When I was growing up I had a friend whose family celebrated the 12 days of Christmas. I didn’t completely understand what they did or why, but the idea of having 12 days of presents and fun sounded wonderful to me as a child. And since we couldn’t really agree on which traditions to pass on from our own immediate families or when to celebrate Christmas (open presents on the Eve of or the day of?) or whom to celebrate Christmas with (his family or mine or stay home?) or when is too early to celebrate or too late to celebrate, etc…..well….we decided that perhaps we’d try something “new” for both him and I AND the kids. A tradition that is neither familiar to his family nor mine. The 12 Days of Christmas.

It sounded like a good idea but we didn’t really know what it would all entail. We kind of “winged it”. Our understanding of the celebration of the 12 Days of Christmas is - in a very very simple definition - giving the birth of Christ the celebration it is due (MORE than one day), celebrating what it means to have that bridge between the human and Divine, being reminded of what is to come, and bringing it to a close at the celebration of Epiphany (the arrival and celebration of the Three Wise Men). Of course all of that is not necessarily easy for little minds and hearts to absorb, but we do our best to translate in a way they may - or may not - understand. So with each day comes a new way of celebrating or acknowledging these days.

Day 1: Santa leaves gifts
Day 2: sharing a meal with friends and/or family
Day 3: family outing
Day 4: baking of cookies and homemade yumminess
Day 5: the giving of homemade yumminess to neighbors and friends
Day 6: travel day
Day 7: exchange of gifts with Nana and Bumpa and cousins
Day 8: exchange of gifts with Granny and Gramps and cousin
Day 9: family game day - day spent playing board games, video games, puzzles
Day 10: gifts from Mom and Dad
Day 11: chosing of “old” toys to give to kids who don’t have any
Day 12: family gift

So technically today ends our celebration of the 12 Days of Christmas, though the Church’s celebration of Epiphany will be this coming Sunday.

Our days were celebrated with joy. The kids were able to appreciate and enjoy each round of gift giving and each activity we did together. We will most definitely be doing this again next year with the hopes that a little bit more of the meaning of it all will sink in a little bit deeper for each child.

Sure, it was definitely more work for John and I but it was so worth it. And seeing the faces of the kids with each new day was priceless.

And so on this final day of the celebration of the Birth of Our Lord…….


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!